Paper marbleizing is a very old tradition originating in Japan. The process can be addictive because it is so much fun and quite easy to do. The method is also applied on fabric, handmade paper, ornaments, rocks, and seashells to name a few.
In this article I will explain how to create marbleized paper in 5 easy steps.
1. Water and Tub.
2. Types of Paper.
3. Assortment of Paints.
4. Techniques.
5. Drying, Pressing and Beautiful Results.
Before we begin you should have a well ventilated area work space whether it’s in the garage or basement. Your work station should be protected with plastic sheets or newspaper. Keep lots of newspaper on hand for easy clean up as well. Use rubber gloves or surgical gloves to protect your hands. You will also need a few plastic spoons.
1. Water and Tub.
You need a shallow plastic tub filled with approximately 2/3 of luke warm water. The temperature is very important. Don’t make the water to cold or to warm, or the paint will not float properly. Place the tub on your protected work surface. The size of the tub depends on the size of paper you want to use. I would suggest a medium to small size tub to start with.
2. Types of Paper.
The paper you should use must be of medium weight. I found that almost all types of paper work fine however make sure that your paper isn’t too thin because you don’t want it to disintegrate in the water! The size of your paper must fit into the tub, so at least one inch smaller than the size of your tub, and you can use an additional assortment of smaller sizes. I always keep a few stacks of different sizes placed beside my tub. The paper should be white or ivory in color.
3. Assortment of Paints.
The type of paint you use is important. It can not be water soluble. The purpose of the paint is that it must float on the water. You can buy a marbling kit from a craft store, however I prefer to use enamel paints from the hardware store. You can start with 4-5 different colors. Choose black, red, yellow, green and blue for now. As some of these colors swirl around on the water, new colors will automatically be created. The only tools you will need are plastic spoons. Make sure your work area is well ventilated while you work.
4. Techniques.
This is the fun part! Use your plastic spoon to remove some paint and drizzle it gently all over the surface of the water. You can do this with 2 or 3 colors and create some interesting drizzled lines. More effects can be created by blowing in the paint in certain areas and also using a toothpick or the plastic spoon to twirl the paint around gently. Quickly yet gently lay your sheet of paper on the paint. Gently tap on the paper to remove any air bubbles. Lift the paper from left to right or right to left. Flip over and place on floor to dry. You will love the surprising and beautiful results. Repeat the process and once in a while you can place some newspaper on the surface of the water to clean the area.
5. Drying, Pressing, and Beautiful Results.
Continue the process, experimenting with different colors and sizes of paper. Place them on a covered floor or table to dry. Drying times vary depending on how much paint and what types of paint you used. The results are amazing! If you have white blotches, these are air bubbles that left a white mark. So just keep experimenting and have fun! When your works are dry press them under something heavy to flatten. You can make cards, gift tags, and wrapping paper.
Most importantly, practice, practice, practice, and have fun!
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